Morny Glory For Invincible Spirit’s Shalaa

After the disappointment of Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) suffering defeat in unsuitable conditions in midweek, it was a bold call of John Gosden to let Al Shaqab Racing’s Shalaa (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) take his chance in a rain-affected G1 Darley Prix Morny at Deauville on Sunday, but the prolific G2 July S. and G2 Richmond S. winner rewarded the bravery with another merciless display of speed to enhance his already stellar reputation. Only tried on good ground or faster so far, the bay had grown markedly in stature since his debut flop when eighth in a valuable six-furlong conditions event at Newbury May 16. After shaking off first-day nerves when breaking his maiden decisively at Newmarket a fortnight later, he had returned there after a 10-day pause to win the July S. at a huge 14-1. Only 11-8 when blitzing his rivals under a penalty in the July 30 Richmond, he had already scared off any meaningful opposition from the home defence and the July 26 G2 Prix Robert Papin scorer Gutaifan (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) looked his sole threat. Rain in the morning at Deauville led to an anxious wait for his fans, but after a course walk Gosden opted to let him loose and a sense of caution pervaded for the first half of the race with Frankie Dettori holding on to something in a narrow lead from the same operation’s second-string. Still enthusiastic enough to pull that rival out of his comfort zone by the furlong pole, Shalaa who was sent off a generous 7-10 gradually pulled clear under hand riding to score by a comfortable 1 3/4-length margin, with Tourny (Fr) (Country Reel) best of the French duo well adrift five lengths behind in third. “We had some reservations about the ground and if he was not handling it Frankie was asked to take care of him, but he did tolerate it even though it was far from being his favorite,” his conditioner said. “He’s a very good horse and his class won it for him. He’s probably the fastest 2-year-old I’ve handled since Oasis Dream and I think he could be in that class next year. He’ll probably run next in the G1 Middle Park S. [at Newmarket Sept. 26] and that will be his last run of the season. He could be a top-class sprinter next season.” Dettori was even more effusive in his praise, telling Equidia, “He is the best two-year-old I’ve sat on in my life.”

Sunday, Deauville, France
DARLEY PRIX MORNY-G1, €350,000, DVL, 8-23, 2yo, c/f, 6fT, 1:13.31, hy.
1–&SHALAA (IRE), 126, c, 2, by Invincible Spirit (Ire)
1st Dam: Ghurra (GSP-US, $145,494), by War Chant
2nd Dam: Futuh, by Diesis (GB)
3rd Dam: Hardship, by Drone
(100,000gns Wlg ‘13 TATFOA; 170,000gns Ylg ‘14 TATOCT). O-Al Shaqab Racing; B-Mogeely Stud (IRE); T-John Gosden; J-Frankie Dettori. €199,990. Lifetime Record: 5-4-0-0, €409,664. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.

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2–Gutaifan (Ire), 126, c, 2, Dark Angel (Ire)–Alikhlas (GB), by Lahib. (€75,000 Wlg ‘13 GOFNOV). O-Al Shaqab Racing; B-Eimear Mulhern & Abbeville Stud (IRE); T-Richard Hannon. €80,010.
3–Tourny (Fr), 122, f, 2, Country Reel–Maka (Fr) (SP-Fr), by Slickly (Fr). (€32,000 Yrl ‘14 ARNOV). O-Gerard Augustin-Normand & Mme Elisabeth Vidal; B-Haras du Logis & Julian Ince (FR); T-Pascal Bary. €40,005.
Margins: 1 3/4, 5, 2HF. Odds: 0.70, 4.10, 4.30.
Also Ran: Zebstar (Ire), Viserano (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.